Training Reward Responsiveness Through Virtual Reality

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. VR-RT is a novel intervention aimed at enhancing savoring of positive experiences among individuals with elevated depression and low positive affect through guided imaginal recounting following immersion in positive VR experiences. The current study tests an enhanced version of this training using improved virtual reality technology. Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomly assigned to 4 weeks of either VR-RT or VR-MT. Participants will complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, and self-report questionnaires as part of the study. The total length of participation is around 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. At least 18 years old 2. Fluent in written and spoken English 3. Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs: 1. Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 8 2. Score on the PANAS-P of 27 or lower 3. Score on the WSAS of ≥ 11 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, intellectual/developmental disability, or organic brain damage 2. Substance use disorder in the past 6 months 3. Current use of psychotropic medications 4. Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant 5. Self-reported frequent motion sickness 6. Self-reported seizures within the last year and/or a diagnosis of epilepsy 7. Self-reported color blindness or vision that is not corrected to normal